Give Thanks – February 22, 2016

Today’s Scripture…”In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – I Thessalonians 5:18

Thoughts for Today…At the age of 7, a young boy and his family were forced out of their home, and the boy was forced to go to work. When the boy was 9, his mother passed away. He had a job as a store clerk but lost it when he was twenty. The young man wanted to go to law school but had no education. He went into debt when he was twenty-three to become a partner in a small store. It was only 3 years later that his business partner died and left him with a debt that took him years to repay.

He dated a girl for 4 years and at the age of twenty-eight decided to ask her to marry him. She turned him down. Thirty-seven years into his life, he was elected to Congress…on his THIRD try. He then failed to be re-elected. This man’s son died at the age of 4. At age forty-five, he ran for the Senate…and failed to be elected. He persisted at politics and ran for the vice-presidency at age forty-seven, and again lost. Finally, at the age of fifty-one, this man was elected President of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

And then, President Lincoln did a very unusual thing. In the midst of the darkest day in American history, in the midst of the Civil War which claimed more American lives than any other war, in the midst of great trial and tragedy, President Lincoln issued the following proclamation: “It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

Abraham Lincoln had a grateful heart. He knew that even in the midst of great tribulation and hardship, there was much to be thankful for. And he took the time to express his gratitude to God, and invited the American people to join him in giving thanks to the Holy One.

You see, there IS much to be thankful for…Are the kids screaming and yelling and “getting on your nerves” as they run throughout the house playing? Give thanks…there are many children who are sick and cannot play. Has your boss been unusually critical and complaining lately? Give thanks…there are many without jobs. Tired of eating the same old food day after day? Give thanks…there are many who have no food. Are you frustrated with the state of affairs in America? Give thanks…you have freedom and liberty that many throughout the world do not have. Angry at your spouse or friend or relative because of something they did? Give thanks…there are many who are lonely. Noise too loud? Give thanks…you can hear. Tired of all of the errands? Give thanks…you can walk.

I’ll say it again, there IS much to be thankful for! Why not take a few seconds and express your gratitude to the Lord? “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:” Psalms 92:1 (KJV)